Every man should feel solemnly called of God when brought into trouble, to see that his sufferings work in him the Christian results. He should thereby learn gentleness, tenderness, sweetness, &c. When one comes to his own Gethsemane, let him remember Christ, and take lessons from the example of the Master.

"No cross, no crown!" From the tongues of angel choirs sounds this motto for the pilgrims in the journey of life. From the bed of pain, the couch of languishment, the dungeon of despair, from the blighted heart of youth and the frozen breast of age, amid disappointment, and sorrow, and agony, this sublime appeal to the immortal spirit struggling for victory or release is uttered; and its echo may be heard in the remotest abodes of suffering humanity.

The cup of affliction is less distasteful, because our Lord himself has drank of its bitterness, and left on the brim a sweet and lingering fragrance.

A black cloud makes a traveller mend his pace, and mind his home; whereas a fair day, and a pleasant way, lead him to lose his time and waste his affections in the prospect of the country. It is a mercy that now and then some clouds obscure our sun and some troubles eclipse our comforts, for if we found too much friendship in our inn, or our pilgrimage, we should be in the more danger of forgetting our Father's house and our endless heritage above.

As there is a sad mirth, so there is a joyful mourning. The tears of the penitent are not only the joy of angels, but the joy of his own heart and the solace of his soul; the salter his tears, the sweeter his comforts; the deeper his sighs, the brighter his happiness. To mourn for sin is to weep for joy. The pure and pleasant streams of consoation, that flow in those crystal rivers of eternal pleasure, at God's right hand, come from a weeping spring.

When we look up to heaven, how oft do we see the sun both rise and set. When we look down into our souls, how often do we perceive our comforts rise and fall. Look upon yonder ship which now seems almost to touch the sky, and anon is in the trough of the ocean as if about to be swallowed up by the waves. One while a Christian is on Mt. Tabor, and hath a glimpse of heaven; another time he lies in the valley of Bochim, a-weeping: Joshua's long day is many times turned into Paul's sad night. God suffers our happiness here to be brief and imperfect, that so we may be pressing on the more eagerly to that place where we shall be perfectly and eternally happy.

God's presence makes all conditions comfortable and joyous. Where the king is, there is the court; and where the presence of God is, there is heaven. Art thou in prison, like Paul and Silas? if God be with thee thou wilt sing hallelujahs. Art thou at the stake, like the blessed martyrs of sainted memory? as beams of the sun put out the brightness of the fire, so the beams of God's countenance put out the fierceness of the flames. Therefore, the soul that enjoys the Lord, though it may be without the shining of sun or moon, needs them not, for the glory of God doth enlighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

It was proudly said by Cesar, crossing the sea, being in a little bark, in a tempestuous storm, when they were ready to be swallowed up, and perceiving the courage of the pilot to fail, "Fear not, for thou carriest Cesar!" How truly may the Christian say, amid tribulations, "Fear not O my soul, for thou dost carry Jesus Christ!" What though the windows of heaven be opened, or the fountains of the deep broken up; yet God that sits in heaven will not cast away his Son. Christ that lives within me, will not let me sink; the swelling waves are but to set me nearer heaven, and the boisterous weather is but to constrain me to awake my Master. While sailing with Christ I am sure of landing with him.

If Jesus calls you to trial, to suffering, to persecution, bear it patiently. Did I say patiently? No! not patiently merely; do not live in the cellar of religion; but mount higher; bear it delightedly, affectionately, joyously, thankfully.

The teachings of the writer of the book of Job, who has drawn the heavens to the earth, encamped their hosts invisibly around the bed of the languishing, and made the afflictions of the sufferer a spectacle to angels,-has taught that God, too, looks with a watchful eye upon his creatures, and exposes them to the trial of their integrity for the maintenance of his own truth, and the promotion of his own glory. "When he hath tried me I shall come forth as gold."

Misfortune is never mournful to the soul that accepts it; for such do always see that every cloud is an angel's face. Every man deems that he has precisely the trials aud temptations which are the hardest of all others for him to bear; but they are so simply because they are the very ones he most needs.

Blessed are the ministrations of sorrow! Through it we are brought into more tender relationship to all other forms of being, obtain a deeper insight into the mystery of eternal life, and feel more distinctly the breathings of the Infinite. The sorrow which God appoints is purifying and ennobling, containing within itself a serious joy. From the sepulchre the stone is rolled away, and angels declare to the mourners, "He is not here, he is risen; why seek ye the living among the dead?" while another and diviner voice proclaims, "Because I live, ye shall live also."

May there be to us no more clouds than is necessary for a beautiful evening sky, no more rain than is necessary to form a rainbow in the sunbeams, and eternal dewdrops on that new and perpetual morn which all that is lovely of

earth and revealed of heaven promises to those who while passing through earth's fiery trials attain to purity of spirit.

There is healing in the bitter cup. God takes away, or removes far from us, those we love, as hostages of our faith; and to those who look forward to a reunion in another world, where there will be no separation, and no mutability except that which arises from constant progressiveness; the evening of life becomes more delightful than the morning, and the sunset offers brighter and lovelier visions than those we build up in earlier clouds and which appear before the strength of the day.

Faith is that precious and divine alchemy which can transmute grief into joy; or rather, it is the pure and heavenly Euphrasy that clears away the film from our mortal sight, and makes affliction appear what it really is, a dispensation of mercy.

Heaven and God are best discerned through tears; scarcely perhaps are discerned at all without them. The natural association of prayer with the hours of bereavement and the scenes of death, suffice to show this. Instead of slumbering at noon in Eden, we must keep the midnight watch within Gethsemane. We too, like our great Leader, must be made perfect through suffering; but the struggle by night will bring the calmness of the morning; the period of exceeding sorrow will prepare the day of godlike strength; the prayer for deliverance calls down the power of endurance. And while to the reluctant their cross is too heavy to be borne, it grows light to the heart of willing

trust.

God would not make this world a paradise, because he had prepared a far better home for his children. Hence, "link by link he rends away the golden chains which bind the soul to earth, that he may use them to fasten it more securely above.'

Weary wanderer, scorched by the sun's heat, and then again chilled by the winter's blast, come, and find a restingplace under the shadow of Jesus. His is a lengthened shadow and will protect thee every whit. Wherever thou goest, it will be to thee as a pillar of cloud by day, and of fire by night-just what thou needest.

How strong is that soul who has engaged the Lord on his side. He who thrust the sinning angels out of heaven, will drive them from the bosom of his children. Fear not, then, child of Jesus; but rest thine hand in his, and feel secure in his merciful hold of thee. Like the ship at anchor, thou wilt feel the buffeting of the waves; but thou art safe.

What proof could we give of our loyality to Jesus, if we had no warfare to wage, no trials to encounter, and nothing to suffer for his sake? Every trial endured may be a laurel gained, a gem in our crown of rejoicing. Let the Christian soldier rejoice in the occasions of severe conflict, since by them he may show the strength of his attachment to the great Captain of our salvation.

Gracious Father! hear my prayer, and fit me for thy presence, by whatever means thou seest best. I would receive and bless thee for thy gentle chastisements, tender as a Father's love can make them. Yea, in time of my necessity, when in love thou smitest me, I will lay hold upon thy hand with stronger grasp, for then does thy full heart overflow with sympathy even as a mother's love towards her child in time of its distress.

me.

There is a calm and solace in the storm, for my heavenly Father doth order it. There is no chance or accident to A Father's hand each event. governs It is love that spreads out the dark no less than the bright scenes of life. And love can cast a shade of beauty on the darkest hour. It is light above the cloud.